Why do some people laugh at Funerals?

Carl lost his mom in 2007 to natural causes. I've only known him since 98' but I can say that he is a firm serious guy. His mom didn't talk much
but she did offer me whatever she could spare when I visited her home.

During her funeral ceremony the Preachor talked about how sweet of a person she was and all the sacrifices she made for her kids and then Carl starts
to laugh. His laugh sounded like the puppet on SAW but much louder and his eyes were locked on to some invisible object.

Carl isn't the first person that I've noticed this happening too but he is the most recent. They all stare and laugh.

My aunts friend laughed at her husbands funeral. I believe it to be something of an odd way of dealing with the emotions or just plainly, the death of
the loved one has caused so much emotional stress it has made them go a little mental

Something I was told recently is that most people who were close to the deceased do not actively listen to the service. They are relieving memories of
the person and this may account for some of it. I am not positive on it but this is what my grandmother shared with me.

There's a lot of emotional energy at funerals and people handle it differently. Sometimes the sense of tragedy doesn't really "hit home" until
the person fully realizes their loved one is gone, and it's kind of repressed in that way. It's hard to tell what a person might do to vent their
feelings, or what their beliefs are about death and how they really feel. It's a touchy issue for all of society. Some people don't even think
funerals are appropriate for celebrating someone's death. But nothing sounds unusual about what you describe, at least to me. I've smiled and
laughed at loved ones' funerals, you don't have to be visibly mournful to be saddened by the loss, and you can still appreciate the things about
them that made you happy while they were alive.

As for Carl, I'd say your instincts are accurate, and that he may be in need of some counselling. What you "saw" doesn't sound healthy and you say
he's been withdrawn since - he needs to talk it out and get some love. Losing a godly mother isn't easy and I can say that from first hand
experience. It's hard to get over and you never really do, given that it's our mothers who are the one's who love us unconditionally, which is the
closest we get to the love of God in human form.

My instincts reading between the lines between the lines is you saw Carl snap and a crack may have opened up in him there.. help him if you can. He
can be restored by the love of God, and nothing less imho.

did you ask him if he was laughing in response to what the preacher said about his mom?

like... the preacher said she was a kind person and sacrificed alot.. when in all actuality.. she was greedy and unimagineably abusive?

and he laughed when the preacher tried to make it all respectable sounding?

i doubt you asked him that.. just because maybe it isn't true and that's not why.. risky asking..

but imagine how many nasty scumbaggy people die and have a preacher say well they were soo outstanding and they brought a smile to our face.. when
it's all really a complete lie and the preacher's being payed to make it "all quaint and funeral-like"...

I've never been good at funerals, I miss the person, but the funeral to me is, while intended to be a solemn occasion, is something that I feel
should be more of a memorial party.
Like when someone retires.
When my grandfather died, while I loved the man, I didn't really mourn at his funeral. He was a great man, and I don't think he would have wanted
people to cry at his dispense.

So, I managed to cheer up my various younger relatives, and got veryone laughing, talking about our grandfather, the good times, and what we'd miss
about him.
Over all, though, we we were happy to know him.

It appears as if the mind is taking comfort in laughter when faced with tragedy. I've noticed this behavior in 3 different families and not one is
likely to joke around for any reason at a loved ones death.

so Maybe this is why some say there are no words to explain how I feel?

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